Is your dog getting ants in his pants? If you are like most dog owners, the
plunge of winter temperatures has dampened your enthusiasm for outdoor activity,
causing angst for your cooped-up canine. Many animal behavioral specialists
reported that dogs that didn’t receive regular exercise during the winter became
antsy and reactive in the spring and some developed unwanted behavioral
patterns. Additionally, it is not good for a dog’s health to be active in the
summer and a couch-potato in the winter. For optimum mental and physical health,
many veterinarians recommend that dogs receive 45 minutes to an hour of daily,
consistent exercise and enrichment, broken up into shorter intervals.

Even if we want the best for our canine companions, winter presents
challenges that make it difficult to keep up a regular exercise routine for our
dogs. If you are wondering how to keep your dog active, watch this video. In it,
Dr. Sarah gives tips and advice from venturing outside to transforming your
indoor space into a canine activity center. Most activities do not require fancy
technology or major space overhauls – just some creativity and a sense of fun.

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Now is a great time to develop better habits for your canine companion.
Just like in humans, obesity is rampant in America’s pet population. When dogs
carry too much weight they place an extra strain on all their organs, and they
can be at an increased risk for diabetes, arthritis, high blood pressure and
pancreatitis. Unsurprisingly, excess weight gain can interfere with a pet’s
quality of life and actually shorten their life span.

Fortunately, dogs respond very well to simple weight-loss programs. By
increasing your pet’s exercise and reducing the amount of calories he or she
eats, you can help reduce your pet’s weight and the risk of health problems
associated with obesity.

But how do you determine whether or not your dog is overweight? And, if your
dog is overweight, what can you do about it? In this short video, Dr. Sarah
shows you how to learn if your dog is carrying too much weight, and gives advice
on how to help your dog shed unwanted pounds.